God Wants Intimacy With us ? it;s dear to me as well and should be for all of us,- God is Passionate about his relationship with you ,all of us who are in him. - If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 ... "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." .. John 15:9 That's pretty close.
Here's one of those keys in my last article about his power, it;s the real deal,, I do also as much as possible I seek get away. it;s all deeply personal to it;s my deepest yearning to be with him. there are no rituals for me in so doing all simple it;s all heart issues as it always was, it;s what our first kin in the faith had they came to gather for the reason to share such a relationship, why they gathered wherever. it;s what , we lost that so much.. sorry , not here I go , and seek wherever whenever.
Joy, take the time!
Friday, January 27, 2012
In his might!
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raising the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8 .
Something missing let,s face it!
The goal at narrowway is to get back and into this connection, why we added the many papers and quotes, questions desires, we have from others in other lands who are asking and desiring to see more than the absence of the above statements by Christ. Jesus did not spiritualize his miracles, he knew the need of those asking.
I know the question well? without his indwelling Spirit and not reducing him to a mere religious system, but utilizing the living God who is Spirit is quite another matter, leading to tremendously new reality without him we;re just another philosophy, safe to say. Getting connected is vital and needs to be the prime goal.
I remain a firm believer in his unending presence in the great eternal now of my life. That inner unction would guide me as clear as the sun is in the sky many times out. And knew when people were in trouble and sensed the presence of things to come. Fear is a form of worship, it gives homage to doubt and defeat. He would purge me as I went along.
The surrender of self is place we all must go it;s there when we enter our last breath in death,all the pride goes, ego,and self reliance is done.
As we stand before him one day all knees bow, I got a few good doses of having to do so here in the now of life. It;s not for show or notoriety, it;s love he gives for the condition of humans bound in nature's night, sin, suffering and hurting one another for the sake of gain, wars and rumors of wars and one day perhaps the madness will be allowed to take that last step. In the mean time, dig deep and take the time to learn him, it;s not hard we made it that way.
As he led here,,
Treasure indeed, I faced many hard confrontations and none of them was easy, but God prevailed in all, the love he gave to share and care for those who lost all and knew they were lost. We can be lost in wealth or ego, and alcohol etc, you name it, all but being found in him.
Knowing where your going is vital, it'll only become real when you seek him like no tomorrow and go it with him and to hear him. there is no going back. where ever you are he's waiting. Hard for religious people to see that they got lost in all the make shift stuff the masks etc avoid the real issues of knowing what counts. Those greater works are far more than money or cars or titles, it;life of faith is life of action with his presence. TAKE CARE.
I was ask is there a my Church? no sir there is no such thing, the body which is composed of people are all his,,,,, non of us own it, if we do it;s time to step down, it;s time to put him at the top besides we do well to learn the proper order found in his kingdom.
Love to all.
Pray for neighbors, and take the time to help one another! lets pray for the crime to stop! the theft and shootings, it only hurts all the more.
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raising the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8 .
Something missing let,s face it!
The goal at narrowway is to get back and into this connection, why we added the many papers and quotes, questions desires, we have from others in other lands who are asking and desiring to see more than the absence of the above statements by Christ. Jesus did not spiritualize his miracles, he knew the need of those asking.
I know the question well? without his indwelling Spirit and not reducing him to a mere religious system, but utilizing the living God who is Spirit is quite another matter, leading to tremendously new reality without him we;re just another philosophy, safe to say. Getting connected is vital and needs to be the prime goal.
I remain a firm believer in his unending presence in the great eternal now of my life. That inner unction would guide me as clear as the sun is in the sky many times out. And knew when people were in trouble and sensed the presence of things to come. Fear is a form of worship, it gives homage to doubt and defeat. He would purge me as I went along.
The surrender of self is place we all must go it;s there when we enter our last breath in death,all the pride goes, ego,and self reliance is done.
As we stand before him one day all knees bow, I got a few good doses of having to do so here in the now of life. It;s not for show or notoriety, it;s love he gives for the condition of humans bound in nature's night, sin, suffering and hurting one another for the sake of gain, wars and rumors of wars and one day perhaps the madness will be allowed to take that last step. In the mean time, dig deep and take the time to learn him, it;s not hard we made it that way.
As he led here,,
Treasure indeed, I faced many hard confrontations and none of them was easy, but God prevailed in all, the love he gave to share and care for those who lost all and knew they were lost. We can be lost in wealth or ego, and alcohol etc, you name it, all but being found in him.
Knowing where your going is vital, it'll only become real when you seek him like no tomorrow and go it with him and to hear him. there is no going back. where ever you are he's waiting. Hard for religious people to see that they got lost in all the make shift stuff the masks etc avoid the real issues of knowing what counts. Those greater works are far more than money or cars or titles, it;life of faith is life of action with his presence. TAKE CARE.
I was ask is there a my Church? no sir there is no such thing, the body which is composed of people are all his,,,,, non of us own it, if we do it;s time to step down, it;s time to put him at the top besides we do well to learn the proper order found in his kingdom.
Love to all.
Pray for neighbors, and take the time to help one another! lets pray for the crime to stop! the theft and shootings, it only hurts all the more.
Alternatives
Don;'t fear
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed... but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God...." 2 Timothy 1:7-8
fs
Thinking of you!
Our prayer for you:
". . . that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."
Colossians 1:9-12
OPTIMISTICALLY REALISTIC
"...the whole world is under the sway of the evil one." 1 John 5:19.
ANOTHER WILL TELL OTHERWISE, WHY THINGS ARE OBSCURE AND CONFUSED? IT;S WHY WAITING IS NOT WISE. TRUST HIM.
ANOTHER WILL TELL OTHERWISE, WHY THINGS ARE OBSCURE AND CONFUSED? IT;S WHY WAITING IS NOT WISE. TRUST HIM.
ASSURANCE
“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? ... O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:6, 12
With all the fears and questions of our times, it is here best to live, rest assure that both any who have sought to do in justice shall falter in so doing. Our hope is in his rightousness.
NW
With all the fears and questions of our times, it is here best to live, rest assure that both any who have sought to do in justice shall falter in so doing. Our hope is in his rightousness.
NW
The narrowway.
"... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him ." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Despite what we see and our drive to teach and wake the many whom will suffer untold loss in times to come, our hope is not inthe empty promises of men and money that is worthless or lies without end, but only in Christ alone is freedom from all the external madness.
Narroway thanks those, abroad who shared with us the deep prayers and desires to see restoration of those in the faith seeking truth and direction.
Those real truths
Many crowd the Savior's Kingdom,Few receive His Cross,Many seek His consolation,Few will suffer lossFor the dear sake of the Master,Counting all but dross.
Many sit at Jesus' table,Few will fast with HimWhen the sorrow-cup of anguishTrembles to the brim.Few watch with Him in the gardenWho have sung the hymn.
Many will confess His wisdom.Few embrace his shame,Many, should He smile upon them,Will His praise proclaim;Then, if for a while He leave them,They desert his Name.
But the souls who love Him trulyIn woe or in sweet bliss,These will count their truest heart's bloodNot their own, but His;Savior, Thou Who thus hast loved me,Give me love like this.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Forged on the anvil of God
Acts 3:19 says "Repent you therefore, and be converted that your sins My be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
It;s pretty personal! "Presence of the Lord is far more than mere allegorical philosophy or routine, business operation of human effort verses surrender, it;s some thing which must take place in each of us! without we stumble along.
It;s that place that sets us apart from our selves, and the idol chatter of second guessing. It's the true relationship based on those times with him. Moses in the wilderness and Paul in the Arabian desert, as other also taken to be forged to places where only faith can see what eyes can not, God is there.
Taking time has eternal consequences as does neglecting to do so, God who is Spirit, he lives in his temple that is his people alive and living, where ever you are and whatever your doing he is alway present.
Narrowway How we build the right temple that he may be pleased is the faith his temple who are people exhibit can not be found in man's wisdom but our inability to see with inward eyes, nor flesh can rought. Faith, for without it is impossible to please God. Scripture. NEB
It;s pretty personal! "Presence of the Lord is far more than mere allegorical philosophy or routine, business operation of human effort verses surrender, it;s some thing which must take place in each of us! without we stumble along.
It;s that place that sets us apart from our selves, and the idol chatter of second guessing. It's the true relationship based on those times with him. Moses in the wilderness and Paul in the Arabian desert, as other also taken to be forged to places where only faith can see what eyes can not, God is there.
Taking time has eternal consequences as does neglecting to do so, God who is Spirit, he lives in his temple that is his people alive and living, where ever you are and whatever your doing he is alway present.
Narrowway How we build the right temple that he may be pleased is the faith his temple who are people exhibit can not be found in man's wisdom but our inability to see with inward eyes, nor flesh can rought. Faith, for without it is impossible to please God. Scripture. NEB
Monday, January 23, 2012
Spirit led? our desire?
The Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29) – The curse of legalism grieves him, for he is the Spirit of grace,
The Spirit of glory (1 Pet. 4:14) – Earthly greed, materialism, corrupt doctrine such as prosperity theologygrieve him, for he is the Spirit of glory.
The Spirit of truth (John 16:13) – Any deceit, deception, distortion, or dishonesty grieves him, for he is theSpirit of truth.
The eternal Spirit (Heb. 9:14) – Thus, to overemphasize the temporary things down here grieves him, forthey are passing, and he is the eternal Spirit.
He knows
He searches out the human mind – “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10). In the verse just prior to this, Paul
paraphrases from Isaiah 64:4 and writes: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).Caution;
The Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph. 1:17) – Thus, to neglect a careful and prayerful reading of one’s
Bible grieves the Holy Spirit, for he is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Note the warnings of Hosea and
Jesus concerning this: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of
thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hos. 4:6). “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not
knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). Spirit led?
“When it is a question of God's almighty Spirit, never say, ''I can't.''” 1 Corinth 12,13,14. Without the Spirit we have nothing .
The manifesting Gifts are not human talents, "Walston " "they are God the HolySpirit working in us,
working in all his people, when ever he so chooses, not just a every few hundred years, I think frequently is the case it is here the western version of Christianity slides off the rail and chases the logic part more so to appeal to man's wisdom which was the case in Alexandria with all the allgorism from Plato and Aristotle, which Oragin influenced the early faith, perhaps to much so.
Why the mess in the west is as divided as it is". Some body missing! Narroway
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (NIV) says:
Re quoting Barclay and the others I mention they came with something to bring that's all the body in the Assembly, were able to participate, many were in houses, amen, personal. I avoided the word Church because it was added latter to the text as means of political control,and is not biblical word or term it was added and has background which is unrelated relational function which was far more personal with God and one another in it's very nature, it is not the same sorry.
I like to stress Dr. walston really speaks to the issues dealing with the Spirit's ministry in Cd. I got to know Rick some time back, asking a whole series of questions. One of which was "Jesus says we shall do greater things" is all but missing today, and been re-explained to try cover over the Spiritual stunted state today resulting from the doubt here in the west. Grasping those wonderful blessing, brings joy and hope to seeking heart.
I can't imagine missing such a huge part of the his presence. I would check out the truth. A whole other picture emerges when doing so.
Paul warns of this in the divides. it was an entertained alluring appeal of fancy speaker, who speaks best, the Greeks resorted to their logic and skills in speaking like today, not much has changed. Men became followers of men.
13 However when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.3 For he shall not speak of himself, but he shall only speak what he hears; and he will show you things to come. "Discernment"
14 He shall glorify me; for he shall take from me what is mine, and shall show it to you.
Real big difference here than using logic, it requires being connected to the source.
* The material can be purchased from tren, well worth while it;s large paper with some really good insights and facts. Amen. The historical material is really good. Rick walston
Getting connected:
Step 2.
“If in preaching the gospel you substitute (your knowledge) of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality.” Oswald.
- The assembly reacted to the excesses of Montanism by quenching the Spirit. This was overreaction and disobedient to the Lord and scripture. Agree
- If the organisation continues to exist, the stunted life of its members will give people a wrong expectation of life in Christ.
- Our expectations shape our experience.
The manifesting Gifts are not human talents, "Walston " "they are God the HolySpirit working in us,
working in all his people, when ever he so chooses, not just a every few hundred years, I think frequently is the case it is here the western version of Christianity slides off the rail and chases the logic part more so to appeal to man's wisdom which was the case in Alexandria with all the allgorism from Plato and Aristotle, which Oragin influenced the early faith, perhaps to much so.
Why the mess in the west is as divided as it is". Some body missing! Narroway
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (NIV) says:
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
- Walking in the Spirit, Gal.5:16.
- Walking in the light, 1Jn.1:7
- Imitating Christ, Eph.5:1; cp. 5:18.
- Epistles of Christ ministered by the Spirit, 2Cor.3:3.
- Partakers of the divine nature, 2Pet.1:4.
- Abide in Me, Jn.15:4,6; 1Jn.2:6; 3:6.
- Walking in love, Eph.5:2. (they are personal),
- Effective prayer, Eph.6:18.
- Effective witnessing, Act.1:8.
- The believer asking for the "empowering" of the Spirit, which was always present with the believer, Lk.11:13; cp. Jn.14:17.
- Therefore, this is reason for them to not be disturbed as if they are going under some new condition of being alone in the devil's world. As believers positive to the truth, they have never been alone, and are not about to be left alone now. Therefore, they are told, "let not your intellect be troubled, neither let it be afraid", Jn.14:1. Get over the excuses and fear.
- The two bases of operation for the Holy Spirit is "along side" and "inside".
Re quoting Barclay and the others I mention they came with something to bring that's all the body in the Assembly, were able to participate, many were in houses, amen, personal. I avoided the word Church because it was added latter to the text as means of political control,and is not biblical word or term it was added and has background which is unrelated relational function which was far more personal with God and one another in it's very nature, it is not the same sorry.
I like to stress Dr. walston really speaks to the issues dealing with the Spirit's ministry in Cd. I got to know Rick some time back, asking a whole series of questions. One of which was "Jesus says we shall do greater things" is all but missing today, and been re-explained to try cover over the Spiritual stunted state today resulting from the doubt here in the west. Grasping those wonderful blessing, brings joy and hope to seeking heart.
I can't imagine missing such a huge part of the his presence. I would check out the truth. A whole other picture emerges when doing so.
Paul warns of this in the divides. it was an entertained alluring appeal of fancy speaker, who speaks best, the Greeks resorted to their logic and skills in speaking like today, not much has changed. Men became followers of men.
13 However when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.3 For he shall not speak of himself, but he shall only speak what he hears; and he will show you things to come. "Discernment"
14 He shall glorify me; for he shall take from me what is mine, and shall show it to you.
Real big difference here than using logic, it requires being connected to the source.
* The material can be purchased from tren, well worth while it;s large paper with some really good insights and facts. Amen. The historical material is really good. Rick walston
Getting connected:
You may pray for an hour and still not pray. You may meet God for a moment and then be in touch with Him all day. --Fredrik Wisloff
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. -- Abraham Lincoln,
Step 2.
“If in preaching the gospel you substitute (your knowledge) of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality.” Oswald.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
New things to come! ready or not, they are coming...
Written by Dr. Lawrence Terlizzese/ Narrowway is thankful for his work. we felt thisis vital , it may be far reaching to our everyday minds, yet this new reality is not far off , and preperation for culture that's been so entertainment based is in for some new thinking,yet again. I was remimded in my of an old thought, a song comes to mind "Is there anyone out there"? appears to carry a distinct reality in terms to the changes to come.
A whole new age is on the way, piece by piece and the impact will no doubt be of great surprise as many unseen consequences will arise as to the challenges this will produce to unseeing minds when it all arrives in the middle of our unsuspecting sand boxes. Enjoy
In the TV show The Six Million Dollar Man, Lee Majors played Steven Austin, a crippled astronaut who was rehabilitated through bionic technology that gave him superhuman strength and powers. The show, like so much science fiction, presents us with the dream that technology will enhance all our facilities from sight to memory, hearing to strength, and lengthen our life span to boot. The bionic man represents a fictional forerunner of the transhuman transformation. The Transhumanist school believes that technology will not only enhance the human condition, but eventually conquer death and grant us immortality.
Human enhancement technology performs wonders in allowing the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the sick to be well, but even immortality is out of the reach of technology. In striving to enhance our physical existence we may lose our souls in the process.
In his famous book, The Abolition of Man published in the 1940s, C. S. Lewis wrote that modern society is one step away from "the void"{1}—"post–humanity,"{2} a state of existence from which there will be no return. Lewis argues that when we step outside of what he calls the Tao{3}, we lose all sense of value for human life that has always governed civilization. What Lewis calls the Tao, we might call Natural Law or Traditional Morality—that internal moral understanding of right and wrong which God has written on the hearts of all people (Romans 2), the Logos by which all things were created (John 1, see especially verse 4).{4}
In leaving traditional spiritual values behind, Lewis argues, modern technological civilization has reduced human value to only what is natural, and we have lost our spiritual quality. Modern society has striven to conquer nature and largely succeeded, but at a great cost—with each new conquest, more losses in human dignity, more of the human spark extinguished.
Lewis offers the example of eugenics from his time in the 1930's and 40's.{5} Eugenics is now a debunked science of racial manipulation and something we know was practiced with particular ferocity in Nazi Germany.{6} But the driving philosophy of manipulating nature and humanity into something new and final remains prominent. Lewis underestimated the truth of his own prophecy. He thought that maybe in 10,000 years the final leap will be taken when mankind will solidify itself into some kind of inert power structure dominated by science and technology.{7}
However, the 21st century may prove to be the era of posthumanity that Lewis foresaw in his time. The current movement of transhumanism, or human enhancement, asserts that humanity will eventually achieve a new form as a species through its adaption to modern computer technology and genetic engineering in order to reach a higher evolutionary condition.
Our present state is not final. Transhumanism derives from Darwinian doctrine regarding the evolution of our species. Evolutionary forces demand that a species adapt to its environment or become extinct. On this view, many species experience a pseudo–extinction in which their adaptation gives way to another kind of species leaving its old form behind. Many evolutionists believe this happened to the dinosaurs on their way to becoming modern birds and that humanity faces the same transformation on its way up a higher evolutionary path.{8} Primates evolved into humans so humans will eventually evolve into something higher (posthuman).
The two predominant pillars in transhumanism revolve around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering. One represents a biological change through manipulating genes.
The other presents the merging of human intelligence with AI. The biological position (through use of genetic engineering) claims that through transference of genes between species, we eradicate the differences and create a global superorganism that encompasses both kinds of life—the natural and the artificial. Biophysicist Gregory Stock states that once humanity begins to tamper with its genetic code, and the codes of all other plants and animal species, that "the definition of 'human' begins to drift."{9} Through genetic engineering we will transform the human condition by merging humanity with the rest of nature, thereby creating a planetary superorganism.
A superorganism operates like a bee hive or an anthill as a collection of individual organisms united as a living creature. Stock calls this Metaman, the joining of all biological creatures with machines, making one giant planetary life form. This superorganism encompasses the entire globe.
Transhumanism presupposes that no distinction exists between humanity, nature or machines. Metaman includes humanity, all it creates, and also the natural world. It acknowledges humanity's key role in the creation of farms and cities, but includes all natural elements, such as forests, jungles and weather. Metaman includes humanity and goes beyond it.{10} Stock envisions a greater role for genetic engineering in redefining biological life as different species are crossed. Humanity may now control the direction of its evolution and that of the entire planet.
Stock states that through "conscious design" humanity has replaced the evolutionary process.{11} This leads us to Post–Darwinism where people have supplanted the natural order with their own technological modification of humanity and the entire ecological system. "Life, having evolved a being that internalizes the process of natural selection, has finally transcended that process."{12} Humanity may now, through the agency of technological progress, seize direction of its development and guide it to wherever it wants itself to go. No other species has ever controlled its own destiny as we do.
The evolutionary process will reach a crescendo sometime in the 21st century in an event transhumanists call "the Singularity."{13} There will be a sudden transformation of consciousness and loss of all distinction, or Singularity, between humanity and its creations, or the absence of boundaries between the natural and artificial world. Singularity watchers expect that this event will mark the ultimate merging of humans and machines.
Renowned inventor and AI prophet Ray Kurzweil states, "The Singularity will allow us to transcend these limitations of our biological bodies and brains. . . . There will be no distinction, post–Singularity, between human and machine. . . ."{14}As the fictional CEO and mastermind behind a cutting edge AI company in the year 2088 crowed, "My goal is for us to end death as we know it on earth within 50 years—for the essence of every person to live perpetually in an uploaded state. . . . The transhuman age has dawned."{15}
Both of these positions, one emanating from genetic engineering that seeks to enhance the body, the other from Artificial Intelligence that seeks to supersede and even supplant the need for bodies, argue for the eventual replacement of humanity with biological–machine hybrids. Metaman and Singularity systems are direct heirs of the modern idea of progress.
They present the dawning of a technological Millennium, but they also share a long history dating back into medieval Christendom. In the early Church, technology, or the "mechanical arts," was never considered as a means to salvation or Edenic restoration. Historian David Noble argues that from Charlemagne to the early Early Modern period technology became associated with transcendence as the means of restoring the lost divine image or imago dei.{16}
Theologian Ernst Benz argues similarly that the Modern technological project was founded on a theological notion in which humanity believed itself to be the fellow worker with God in establishing His kingdom on earth through reversing the effects of the Fall.{17} We are fellow workers with God; however, this position overemphasized humanity's role in restoration to the point of becoming a works–based salvation of creation.
Despite the apparent secularity of the super science behind all the technological wonders of our time, the notions of modern progress and transhumanism remain grounded in an aberrant form of Christian theology. Noble summarizes this well when he states, "For modern technology and modern faith are neither complements nor opposites, nor do they represent succeeding stages of human development.
They are merged, and always have been, the technological enterprise being, at the same time, an essentially religious endeavor."{18} The theology behind Modern technological progress remains rooted in Medieval and Early Modern notions of earthly redemption when the "useful arts,"{19} which ranged anywhere from improved agricultural methods to windmills, were invested with redemptive qualities and humanity began to assume an elevated status over nature.
"In theological terms, this exalted stance vis-Ã -vis nature represented a forceful reassertion of an early core Christian belief in the possibility of mankind's recovery of its original God–likeness, the 'image–likeness of man to God' from Genesis (1:26), which had been impaired by sin and forfeited with the Fall."{20} Technology becomes the means of restoring the original divine image.
Technological development was expected to reverse the effects of the Fall and restore original perfection. This theology also serves as the impetus behind Millennial thought which believes technology helps humanity recover from the Fall and leads to an earthly paradise. Transhumanism extends this Millennial belief into the twenty–first century.
Something essentially partial is boosted into universality, and something essentially finite is given infinite existence."{21} Transhumanism presents us with a spiritualization of technology believed to grant us immortality through shedding our bodies and adopting machine ones or through genetic engineering that will prolong bodily life indefinitely. Our Modern age defines technology as a source of material redemption by placing finite technical means into a divine position, thus committing idolatry.
In seeking to reconcile technology with a biblical theology we have three possible approaches. Technophobia represents the first position. This view contends that we should fear technological innovation and attempt to destroy it. The Unabomber Manifesto offers the most radical, pessimistic and violent expression of this position, arguing for a violent attack against the elites of technological civilization such as computer scientists in an effort to return society to primitive and natural conditions in hopes of escaping the kind of future transhumanists expect.{22} However, the entire tenor of our times moves in the opposite direction, that of technophilism, or the inordinate love for technology. Transhumanism optimistically believes that through technological innovation we will restore our God–like image. A third position asserts a mediating role between over–zealous optimism and radical morose pessimism. {23}
Examples of the negative effects of any technology can be multiplied if we cared enough to think through all the implications of progress. Technocriticism does not allow us the luxury of remaining blissfully unaware of the possible negative consequences and limitations of new inventions. This approach is essential because it demonstrates the fallibility of all technological progress and removes its divine status.
Technocriticism humanizes technology. We assert nothing more than the idea that technology expresses human nature. Technology is us! Technology suffers the same faults and failures that plague human nature. Technology is not a means of restoring our lost divine image or reasserting our rightful place over nature. This amounts to a works–based salvation and leads to dangerous utopian and millennial delusions that amount to one group imposing its grandiose vision of the perfect society on the rest. Such ideologies include Marxism, Technological Utopianism and now Transhumanism. We are restored to the divine "image of His Son" by grace through faith alone (Rom. 8:29). Technology, serving as an extension of ourselves, means that what we create will bear our likeness, both as the image-bearers of God and in sinful human identity. It contains both positive and negative consequences that only patient wisdom can sort through.
Through criticism we limit the hold technology has on our minds and free ourselves from its demands. We use technology but do not ascribe salvific powers of redemption to it. A critical approach becomes even more crucial the further we advance in the fields of genetic engineering and AI. We do not know where these fields will lead and an uncritical approach that accepts them simply because it is possible to do so appears dangerous. We live under the delusion that technology frees us, but as Lewis warns, "At the moment, then, of Man's victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected to that in themselves which is purely 'natural'—to their irrational impulses."{24} The famous science–fiction writer Frank Herbert echoes Lewis's sentiments in his epic novel Dune:
"Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them."{25} Genetic engineering or merging humanity with AI only exchanges one condition for another. We will not reach the glorified condition transhumanists anticipate. A responsible critical approach will ask, Into whose image are we transforming?
We're delighted in Probe ministry to speak out on so many issues.Thanks ...................
A whole new age is on the way, piece by piece and the impact will no doubt be of great surprise as many unseen consequences will arise as to the challenges this will produce to unseeing minds when it all arrives in the middle of our unsuspecting sand boxes. Enjoy
In the TV show The Six Million Dollar Man, Lee Majors played Steven Austin, a crippled astronaut who was rehabilitated through bionic technology that gave him superhuman strength and powers. The show, like so much science fiction, presents us with the dream that technology will enhance all our facilities from sight to memory, hearing to strength, and lengthen our life span to boot. The bionic man represents a fictional forerunner of the transhuman transformation. The Transhumanist school believes that technology will not only enhance the human condition, but eventually conquer death and grant us immortality.
Human enhancement technology performs wonders in allowing the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the sick to be well, but even immortality is out of the reach of technology. In striving to enhance our physical existence we may lose our souls in the process.
In his famous book, The Abolition of Man published in the 1940s, C. S. Lewis wrote that modern society is one step away from "the void"{1}—"post–humanity,"{2} a state of existence from which there will be no return. Lewis argues that when we step outside of what he calls the Tao{3}, we lose all sense of value for human life that has always governed civilization. What Lewis calls the Tao, we might call Natural Law or Traditional Morality—that internal moral understanding of right and wrong which God has written on the hearts of all people (Romans 2), the Logos by which all things were created (John 1, see especially verse 4).{4}
In leaving traditional spiritual values behind, Lewis argues, modern technological civilization has reduced human value to only what is natural, and we have lost our spiritual quality. Modern society has striven to conquer nature and largely succeeded, but at a great cost—with each new conquest, more losses in human dignity, more of the human spark extinguished.
Lewis offers the example of eugenics from his time in the 1930's and 40's.{5} Eugenics is now a debunked science of racial manipulation and something we know was practiced with particular ferocity in Nazi Germany.{6} But the driving philosophy of manipulating nature and humanity into something new and final remains prominent. Lewis underestimated the truth of his own prophecy. He thought that maybe in 10,000 years the final leap will be taken when mankind will solidify itself into some kind of inert power structure dominated by science and technology.{7}
However, the 21st century may prove to be the era of posthumanity that Lewis foresaw in his time. The current movement of transhumanism, or human enhancement, asserts that humanity will eventually achieve a new form as a species through its adaption to modern computer technology and genetic engineering in order to reach a higher evolutionary condition.
Our present state is not final. Transhumanism derives from Darwinian doctrine regarding the evolution of our species. Evolutionary forces demand that a species adapt to its environment or become extinct. On this view, many species experience a pseudo–extinction in which their adaptation gives way to another kind of species leaving its old form behind. Many evolutionists believe this happened to the dinosaurs on their way to becoming modern birds and that humanity faces the same transformation on its way up a higher evolutionary path.{8} Primates evolved into humans so humans will eventually evolve into something higher (posthuman).
Metaman
Our present condition will give way to the cyborg (which is short for cybernetic organism) as we join our bodies and minds to technological progress. Transhumanists believe that because Artificial Intelligence (computing power) advances at such a rapid pace, it will eventually exceed human intelligence and humanity will need to employ genetic engineering to modify our bodies to keep pace or become extinct. Therefore, the cyborg condition represents humanity's inevitable destiny.The two predominant pillars in transhumanism revolve around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering. One represents a biological change through manipulating genes.
The other presents the merging of human intelligence with AI. The biological position (through use of genetic engineering) claims that through transference of genes between species, we eradicate the differences and create a global superorganism that encompasses both kinds of life—the natural and the artificial. Biophysicist Gregory Stock states that once humanity begins to tamper with its genetic code, and the codes of all other plants and animal species, that "the definition of 'human' begins to drift."{9} Through genetic engineering we will transform the human condition by merging humanity with the rest of nature, thereby creating a planetary superorganism.
A superorganism operates like a bee hive or an anthill as a collection of individual organisms united as a living creature. Stock calls this Metaman, the joining of all biological creatures with machines, making one giant planetary life form. This superorganism encompasses the entire globe.
Transhumanism presupposes that no distinction exists between humanity, nature or machines. Metaman includes humanity, all it creates, and also the natural world. It acknowledges humanity's key role in the creation of farms and cities, but includes all natural elements, such as forests, jungles and weather. Metaman includes humanity and goes beyond it.{10} Stock envisions a greater role for genetic engineering in redefining biological life as different species are crossed. Humanity may now control the direction of its evolution and that of the entire planet.
Stock states that through "conscious design" humanity has replaced the evolutionary process.{11} This leads us to Post–Darwinism where people have supplanted the natural order with their own technological modification of humanity and the entire ecological system. "Life, having evolved a being that internalizes the process of natural selection, has finally transcended that process."{12} Humanity may now, through the agency of technological progress, seize direction of its development and guide it to wherever it wants itself to go. No other species has ever controlled its own destiny as we do.
The Singularity
A second transhumanist belief argues for the arrival of an eventual technological threshold that will be reached through the advancement of Artificial Intelligence. The argument goes like this: because AI develops at a rapid pace it will achieve equality with the human brain and eventually surpass it. Estimates as to when this will happen range from the 2020's to 2045.The evolutionary process will reach a crescendo sometime in the 21st century in an event transhumanists call "the Singularity."{13} There will be a sudden transformation of consciousness and loss of all distinction, or Singularity, between humanity and its creations, or the absence of boundaries between the natural and artificial world. Singularity watchers expect that this event will mark the ultimate merging of humans and machines.
Renowned inventor and AI prophet Ray Kurzweil states, "The Singularity will allow us to transcend these limitations of our biological bodies and brains. . . . There will be no distinction, post–Singularity, between human and machine. . . ."{14}As the fictional CEO and mastermind behind a cutting edge AI company in the year 2088 crowed, "My goal is for us to end death as we know it on earth within 50 years—for the essence of every person to live perpetually in an uploaded state. . . . The transhuman age has dawned."{15}
Both of these positions, one emanating from genetic engineering that seeks to enhance the body, the other from Artificial Intelligence that seeks to supersede and even supplant the need for bodies, argue for the eventual replacement of humanity with biological–machine hybrids. Metaman and Singularity systems are direct heirs of the modern idea of progress.
They present the dawning of a technological Millennium, but they also share a long history dating back into medieval Christendom. In the early Church, technology, or the "mechanical arts," was never considered as a means to salvation or Edenic restoration. Historian David Noble argues that from Charlemagne to the early Early Modern period technology became associated with transcendence as the means of restoring the lost divine image or imago dei.{16}
Theologian Ernst Benz argues similarly that the Modern technological project was founded on a theological notion in which humanity believed itself to be the fellow worker with God in establishing His kingdom on earth through reversing the effects of the Fall.{17} We are fellow workers with God; however, this position overemphasized humanity's role in restoration to the point of becoming a works–based salvation of creation.
Despite the apparent secularity of the super science behind all the technological wonders of our time, the notions of modern progress and transhumanism remain grounded in an aberrant form of Christian theology. Noble summarizes this well when he states, "For modern technology and modern faith are neither complements nor opposites, nor do they represent succeeding stages of human development.
They are merged, and always have been, the technological enterprise being, at the same time, an essentially religious endeavor."{18} The theology behind Modern technological progress remains rooted in Medieval and Early Modern notions of earthly redemption when the "useful arts,"{19} which ranged anywhere from improved agricultural methods to windmills, were invested with redemptive qualities and humanity began to assume an elevated status over nature.
"In theological terms, this exalted stance vis-Ã -vis nature represented a forceful reassertion of an early core Christian belief in the possibility of mankind's recovery of its original God–likeness, the 'image–likeness of man to God' from Genesis (1:26), which had been impaired by sin and forfeited with the Fall."{20} Technology becomes the means of restoring the original divine image.
Technological development was expected to reverse the effects of the Fall and restore original perfection. This theology also serves as the impetus behind Millennial thought which believes technology helps humanity recover from the Fall and leads to an earthly paradise. Transhumanism extends this Millennial belief into the twenty–first century.
Redeeming Technology
We are faced with the problem of how to redeem all the advances of technology such as human enhancement without losing ourselves in the process. Idolatry preoccupies our central concern with technology. Biblically speaking, idolatry exalts the work of humanity, including individual human beings, over God; we commit idolatry when we serve the creature rather than the Creator. "Professing to be wise, [we] became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four–footed animals and crawling creatures" (Rom. 1:22-23). Theologian Paul Tillich offers a keen and insightful definition of idolatry when he states, "Idolatry is the elevation of a preliminary concern to ultimacy.Something essentially partial is boosted into universality, and something essentially finite is given infinite existence."{21} Transhumanism presents us with a spiritualization of technology believed to grant us immortality through shedding our bodies and adopting machine ones or through genetic engineering that will prolong bodily life indefinitely. Our Modern age defines technology as a source of material redemption by placing finite technical means into a divine position, thus committing idolatry.
In seeking to reconcile technology with a biblical theology we have three possible approaches. Technophobia represents the first position. This view contends that we should fear technological innovation and attempt to destroy it. The Unabomber Manifesto offers the most radical, pessimistic and violent expression of this position, arguing for a violent attack against the elites of technological civilization such as computer scientists in an effort to return society to primitive and natural conditions in hopes of escaping the kind of future transhumanists expect.{22} However, the entire tenor of our times moves in the opposite direction, that of technophilism, or the inordinate love for technology. Transhumanism optimistically believes that through technological innovation we will restore our God–like image. A third position asserts a mediating role between over–zealous optimism and radical morose pessimism. {23}
Technocriticism
Technocriticism offers the only viable theological position. By understanding technology as a modern form of idolatry we are able to place it in a proper perspective. Technocriticism does not accept the advances of innovation and all the benefits new technology offers without critical dialogue and reflection. Technocriticism warns us that with every new invention a price must be paid. Progress is not free. With the invention of the automobile came air pollution, traffic and accidents. Computers make data more accessible, but we also suffer from information overload and a free–flow of harmful material. Cell phones enhance communication, but also operate as an electric leash, making inaccessibility virtually impossible.Examples of the negative effects of any technology can be multiplied if we cared enough to think through all the implications of progress. Technocriticism does not allow us the luxury of remaining blissfully unaware of the possible negative consequences and limitations of new inventions. This approach is essential because it demonstrates the fallibility of all technological progress and removes its divine status.
Technocriticism humanizes technology. We assert nothing more than the idea that technology expresses human nature. Technology is us! Technology suffers the same faults and failures that plague human nature. Technology is not a means of restoring our lost divine image or reasserting our rightful place over nature. This amounts to a works–based salvation and leads to dangerous utopian and millennial delusions that amount to one group imposing its grandiose vision of the perfect society on the rest. Such ideologies include Marxism, Technological Utopianism and now Transhumanism. We are restored to the divine "image of His Son" by grace through faith alone (Rom. 8:29). Technology, serving as an extension of ourselves, means that what we create will bear our likeness, both as the image-bearers of God and in sinful human identity. It contains both positive and negative consequences that only patient wisdom can sort through.
Through criticism we limit the hold technology has on our minds and free ourselves from its demands. We use technology but do not ascribe salvific powers of redemption to it. A critical approach becomes even more crucial the further we advance in the fields of genetic engineering and AI. We do not know where these fields will lead and an uncritical approach that accepts them simply because it is possible to do so appears dangerous. We live under the delusion that technology frees us, but as Lewis warns, "At the moment, then, of Man's victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected to that in themselves which is purely 'natural'—to their irrational impulses."{24} The famous science–fiction writer Frank Herbert echoes Lewis's sentiments in his epic novel Dune:
"Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them."{25} Genetic engineering or merging humanity with AI only exchanges one condition for another. We will not reach the glorified condition transhumanists anticipate. A responsible critical approach will ask, Into whose image are we transforming?
We're delighted in Probe ministry to speak out on so many issues.Thanks ...................
Friday, January 13, 2012
Toward maturity.
I like thank lake side for this, it;s getter for me personally over the years, it;s pretty much explains itself. So enjoy, perhaps it will change you as it did me long ago. Real loving parents mature their kids in love phil 1;9 love has knowledge. It made huge differnce inmy life to serve the lord in hostile places.
Moving Toward Maturity (March 16, 2003)
Last July a Champaign mother stirred up a great deal of controversy when it was discovered that she was still nursing her eight year-old son. When interviewed on "Good Morning America" the mother said, "Kyle is my only son and he's very important to me and he's going to be allowed to nurse until he decides to finish weaning himself." After the show aired the State of Illinois pressed charges, the boy was put in temporary foster care, and the mother was subjected to counseling and evaluations. Despite all she went through, at last report the mother was still nursing the boy on occasion and passionately defending the practice!
Why was there such an uproar over a mother nursing her eight year-old son? The answer is obvious. We instinctively believe that at some point children must move beyond milk, Gerber food products, diapers, and Fisher Price toys! A child must grow to eat solid foods and to become less dependent on mom. In our culture refusing to move beyond infancy is virtually a crime!
Some Christians never mature.
I appreciate the Amy Grant song you just heard titled "Fat Baby". She exposes an outrageous problem. The problem is that there are Christians who never move beyond infancy and toward maturity. Christians who have been drinking out of baby bottles their entire lives. Christians who cannot stomach much more than an occasional Sunday spiritual lunch. Christians who have sampled the deeper, solid food, but who prefer milk instead.
Christians who know John 3:16, who tote around their King James Bible, who know all the books of the Bible, who have even knelt at the altar, and who weekly go through all the motions, but who are lacking any real spiritual center. Christians who are baptized, sanctified, and redeemed by the blood, but whose daily devotions are stuck in the mud. Christians who are alive and saved, but who turn their noses at doctrine, who rarely feed on anything substantive, and who spend their whole lives being momma's boys.
Talk about outrageous! Outrageous is the fact that Christians can spend years, even decades in the Church, but never move beyond infancy. Yet this sad fact rarely makes the headlines. We don't talk about it. There is an elephant in the room, but no one wants to talk about it! Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV) rebukes us. "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
Notice how the writer of Hebrews describes the problem in Hebrews 5:11. They were, "slow to learn". Literally, the Greek text says that they were, "hard of hearing" or, "dull to hear." And it wasn't that these Christians needed hearing aids. Their ears were perfectly fine. They weren't hearing impaired. Their problem was that they were selectively listening to the counsel of God. Year after year they kept wearing out the verses and pages of the Bible. They kept regurgitating the same old worn cliches that once enriched their lives. Their problem was that they kept eating, eating, and eating, but they never digested the word of God. They attended Bible studies and classes, they listened to sermon after sermon, they tuned into Christian radio all day long, but never truly absorbed what they heard.
A few months ago Lara and I were talking about our female dog, Addie. Lara joked that Addie seemed to become hard of hearing. We would come home and instead of greeting us, Addie would stay downstairs on the couch, snoring away, oblivious to our arrival. Or we would be going to bed and call out for Addie to come, but she wouldn't! We finally got to the heart of the problem. Addie doesn't have a hearing problem. She has a selective hearing problem. Her ears are fine. She can hear the slightest crinkle of a potato chip bag. She can hear the slightest bounce of a ball anywhere in the house. From anywhere in the house she can detect the closet door (the closet which contains her leash) being opened. But call her to get in her cage and sure enough, her hearing short-circuits.
This is the problem the writer of Hebrews is driving at regarding the Hebrew Christians. It isn't that we are hearing impaired. Instead we selectively hear and obey what we want to hear and obey, nothing more and nothing less. We prefer milk over solid foods because it is so much easier on our stomachs. We are comfortable being saved, and we are content with being nursed along. We are terrified at the thought that maybe it's time to grow into spiritual adulthood and start contributing to the nourishment of others instead of just feeding and sponging and demanding and nursing and consuming.
Still being fed.
This is the author of Hebrews second point. He says, "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!" Let me amplify this verse. The Greek text says, "By this time you ought (are indebted to be, owe it to be) teachers, but, you still need milk!"
The writer of Hebrews is lamenting all the squandered potential he sees in the Church. He sees all these accomplished professionals in his midst. People who had risen to prominence in their community, in their workplaces, and among their peers. People who in their every day lives had taken enormous risks, had stretched themselves, had taken on challenges, and had demonstrated their ability. But these were the same people who in their spiritual lives had remained comfortable, had squandered their potential, had remained idle and unproductive, and had wasted away opportunity after opportunity to grow. They had refused to be challenged, to soar to new heights, to move on toward maturity, and to walk by faith. They could have and should have been teachers, but they were still stuck in kindergarten, in elementary school, learning their spiritual ABC's!
I still remember my half-day kindergarten classes, do you? The highlight of kindergarten was that every day just before noon, we'd march single file down the hallway to a refrigerator where we would line up to receive a small carton of milk and a freshly baked cookie. It was the same every day. Line up. Get milk. Get cookie. That's all I remember!
But oh, how I loved those days! That milk and cookie would make me feel so warm and full. Life back then was so easy and uncomplicated. My biggest challenge was learning to write my full name, Jonathan Edward Morrissette. But I'm glad Im not in kindergarten anymore, aren't you? I got bored singing the alphabet a long time ago, counting and drawing letters and learning to tie my shoes, and saying the names of the months in order. I'm glad I moved on! There is so much more to life than lining up at the refrigerator waiting for my daily milk and cookie!
Beyond spiritual kindergarten.
And I'll tell you something else. I'm glad I'm not in spiritual kindergarten anymore. I enjoyed those first steps of faith, learning how to read the Bible, how to pray, how to memorize scripture, and how to understand basic Christian doctrines. I sometimes think about those days when I could go to church and not worry about having a lesson prepared, or a sermon, or having an answer to a question, or being concerned how someone else was doing. But I'm glad I've moved on from those days, and I don't mean that in a prideful or self-congratulatory way. It's just that there is so much more beyond the elementary teachings and more to life than waiting for spiritual milk and cookies.
The writer of Hebrews is telling us rather candidly I think, that we are long overdue. Enough time has elapsed that we should all be teachers, but as it is, some of us are still waiting in line to get a milk mustache and to feel warm and full. When will some of us ever get around to moving toward maturity? That is the concern of the author of Hebrews and of every reasonable Christian.
The author of Hebrews is concerned that we move beyond milk and to put it bluntly, that we grow up. He's saying that it's time we develop a taste for steak. It's time that we develop a voracious appetite and feast on the deeper things of Christ and his kingdom. Hebrews 6:1-3 (NIV) says, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beyond spiritual milk.
Let's pause here for a moment and rehash some of what we have been talking about. The problem is not that the author of Hebrews is a dull or boring teacher, because this has always been a common complaint Christians make of their teachers. The problem is that the Hebrew Christians were dull hearers. They were slothful. They were lazy. They were apathetic about the deeper things of Christ. They selectively listened and did not fully obey the whole counsel of God. As a result, their spiritual development was stunted. They were stuck on milk! Their immaturity was evidenced by their inability to share spiritual truth with others. They had been Christians long enough to be able to share God's truth, but they were again in need of learning the basics concerning the Christian life.
Have you ever stopped to consider what milk is? Warren Wiersbe comments that milk is predigested food. As such milk is especially suited to babies and those who are sick or to those who do not have teeth! A sign of spiritual immaturity is Christians who need everything predigested. The mark of spiritual immaturity is Christians whose first question when they come to church is, "Got milk?"
Spiritual immaturity is Christians who always need someone to read and interpret the Bible for them. It's parents who are unable to teach their children about Jesus. It's church leaders who do not know how to share the gospel or cultivate deeper life in other Christians. It's older men and older women who have never taken it upon themselves to mentor younger men and younger women in the faith. It is Christians who have to be entertained with music and drama and instruments and special lighting and sound effects and powerpoint and all the frills in order to get an ounce of enlightenment.
Spiritual immaturity is Christians who are most concerned about staying comfortable, singing the same songs, quoting the same Bible verses, following the same liturgy, and having everything their way. These folks are never looking beyond themselves at the opportunities to disciple young people and young families which are abounding in their midst.
The writer of Hebrews is raising the bar for church leaders, for parents, and for Christians. There is a time when every Christian must crave pure spiritual milk. Just as everyone has to come into this world as a baby, so everyone has to be born into God's kingdom as a baby. But it is tragic when a baby doesn't move on to maturity. As Wiersbe says, "No matter how much parents and grandparents love to hold and cuddle a baby, it is their great desire that the baby grow up and enjoy a full life as a mature adult. God has the same desire for his children. God wants us moving beyond infancy into maturity."
Marks of true maturity.
We're going to move on to cover the additional verses in Hebrews, but let me briefly sketch out what spiritual maturity looks like and then you can judge whether you are moving toward maturity.
First, a mature Christian is unshakably devoted to Jesus Christ.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's only Son. A mature Christian is one who has mastered the elementary teachings about Christ, has developed deep convictions concerning the identity of Jesus Christ, and is vitally connected to Jesus Christ through prayer, daily devotions, scripture memorization, Bible reading, meditation, fasting, and Bible study. In other words, this is someone who has an insatiable desire to know Christ and search out the deeper things of God. This is a person who isn't content with what he already knows, but is actively growing and pursuing Christ, even into old age.
Second, a mature Christian is tirelessly committed to developing other Christians.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's family, the Church. A mature Christian is one who has become accountable to other Christians for his own growth, but who is lovingly holding others accountable for their growth. It is a parent, a mature Christian who is actively discipling his or her children. It is a Church leader, a mature Christian who is actively mentoring an upcoming leader. It is an older man or woman, a mature Christian who is actively investing in the lives of someone younger in the faith. It is an older brother, or sister, or student, or whatever. It's the same. A mature Christian is patiently encouraging and investing in the growth of others.
Third, a mature Christian is consistently modeling Christ's lifestyle.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's Holy Spirit. I know it is easy for younger people to beat up on their parents, for parents to beat up on church leaders, or for Christians to beat up on pastors. It is easy and tempting for us to question the spiritual maturity of others. But a mature Christian is not someone who is perfect in everything he or she does. A maturing Christian is someone who is becoming increasingly consistent day after day as God's Holy Spirit transforms him or her from the inside out. The question is, are you being transformed? Are you becoming more like Christ? Are you yielding to the leadership of the Spirit of God? Are you obeying your conscience? Are you a doer of the word and not merely a hearer?
Last, a mature Christian is intentionally multiplying new life in the world.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's world. Hebrews 5:12 mentioned that we ought to be teachers. I pointed out that a more accurate translation is that we are indebted to be teachers. A sign of spiritual maturity is taking the new life we have received in Christ, and then sharing it with the world God loves. It's taking those tell, invite, pray cards seriously and inviting people to come and see Jesus Christ. It is inviting as many friends and family members as possible to our church on Friend Day and Easter so that they can hear the gospel and know Jesus Christ.
There is so much more to spiritual life than mere infancy. God wants to mature us and to accomplish great things through us for his glory. He doesn't want us to spend our entire lives lining up for milk. He wants us to be teachers and disciplemakers who make a difference. But it comes down to one thing. Are you listening?
Are you hearing God's call? Or are you selectively hard of hearing or dull of hearing?
It;s a great start from years being froze in the base ideas.. or going back to the milk found in the verses in Hebrews where we are required to move ahead of the elementaty things.
Not easy, milk is easy been done for us?they provide some real good jump off points to use, a great motivation article.
This is dear tome challenged me when it came out to , early street ministry years where loaded with night action, I seen all sorts of stuff than sadly the break down of the family unit and mom and dad were often in missing, so the need for both Boys and girls had no real guidence we all get into troubles but now it;s reached serious crime, something gone wrong, it;s become free for all and out of control, loads of issues for sure and still we travel the road of blindness willfully at times.
Why was there such an uproar over a mother nursing her eight year-old son? The answer is obvious. We instinctively believe that at some point children must move beyond milk, Gerber food products, diapers, and Fisher Price toys! A child must grow to eat solid foods and to become less dependent on mom. In our culture refusing to move beyond infancy is virtually a crime!
Some Christians never mature.
I appreciate the Amy Grant song you just heard titled "Fat Baby". She exposes an outrageous problem. The problem is that there are Christians who never move beyond infancy and toward maturity. Christians who have been drinking out of baby bottles their entire lives. Christians who cannot stomach much more than an occasional Sunday spiritual lunch. Christians who have sampled the deeper, solid food, but who prefer milk instead.
Christians who know John 3:16, who tote around their King James Bible, who know all the books of the Bible, who have even knelt at the altar, and who weekly go through all the motions, but who are lacking any real spiritual center. Christians who are baptized, sanctified, and redeemed by the blood, but whose daily devotions are stuck in the mud. Christians who are alive and saved, but who turn their noses at doctrine, who rarely feed on anything substantive, and who spend their whole lives being momma's boys.
Talk about outrageous! Outrageous is the fact that Christians can spend years, even decades in the Church, but never move beyond infancy. Yet this sad fact rarely makes the headlines. We don't talk about it. There is an elephant in the room, but no one wants to talk about it! Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV) rebukes us. "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
Notice how the writer of Hebrews describes the problem in Hebrews 5:11. They were, "slow to learn". Literally, the Greek text says that they were, "hard of hearing" or, "dull to hear." And it wasn't that these Christians needed hearing aids. Their ears were perfectly fine. They weren't hearing impaired. Their problem was that they were selectively listening to the counsel of God. Year after year they kept wearing out the verses and pages of the Bible. They kept regurgitating the same old worn cliches that once enriched their lives. Their problem was that they kept eating, eating, and eating, but they never digested the word of God. They attended Bible studies and classes, they listened to sermon after sermon, they tuned into Christian radio all day long, but never truly absorbed what they heard.
A few months ago Lara and I were talking about our female dog, Addie. Lara joked that Addie seemed to become hard of hearing. We would come home and instead of greeting us, Addie would stay downstairs on the couch, snoring away, oblivious to our arrival. Or we would be going to bed and call out for Addie to come, but she wouldn't! We finally got to the heart of the problem. Addie doesn't have a hearing problem. She has a selective hearing problem. Her ears are fine. She can hear the slightest crinkle of a potato chip bag. She can hear the slightest bounce of a ball anywhere in the house. From anywhere in the house she can detect the closet door (the closet which contains her leash) being opened. But call her to get in her cage and sure enough, her hearing short-circuits.
This is the problem the writer of Hebrews is driving at regarding the Hebrew Christians. It isn't that we are hearing impaired. Instead we selectively hear and obey what we want to hear and obey, nothing more and nothing less. We prefer milk over solid foods because it is so much easier on our stomachs. We are comfortable being saved, and we are content with being nursed along. We are terrified at the thought that maybe it's time to grow into spiritual adulthood and start contributing to the nourishment of others instead of just feeding and sponging and demanding and nursing and consuming.
Still being fed.
This is the author of Hebrews second point. He says, "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!" Let me amplify this verse. The Greek text says, "By this time you ought (are indebted to be, owe it to be) teachers, but, you still need milk!"
The writer of Hebrews is lamenting all the squandered potential he sees in the Church. He sees all these accomplished professionals in his midst. People who had risen to prominence in their community, in their workplaces, and among their peers. People who in their every day lives had taken enormous risks, had stretched themselves, had taken on challenges, and had demonstrated their ability. But these were the same people who in their spiritual lives had remained comfortable, had squandered their potential, had remained idle and unproductive, and had wasted away opportunity after opportunity to grow. They had refused to be challenged, to soar to new heights, to move on toward maturity, and to walk by faith. They could have and should have been teachers, but they were still stuck in kindergarten, in elementary school, learning their spiritual ABC's!
I still remember my half-day kindergarten classes, do you? The highlight of kindergarten was that every day just before noon, we'd march single file down the hallway to a refrigerator where we would line up to receive a small carton of milk and a freshly baked cookie. It was the same every day. Line up. Get milk. Get cookie. That's all I remember!
But oh, how I loved those days! That milk and cookie would make me feel so warm and full. Life back then was so easy and uncomplicated. My biggest challenge was learning to write my full name, Jonathan Edward Morrissette. But I'm glad Im not in kindergarten anymore, aren't you? I got bored singing the alphabet a long time ago, counting and drawing letters and learning to tie my shoes, and saying the names of the months in order. I'm glad I moved on! There is so much more to life than lining up at the refrigerator waiting for my daily milk and cookie!
Beyond spiritual kindergarten.
And I'll tell you something else. I'm glad I'm not in spiritual kindergarten anymore. I enjoyed those first steps of faith, learning how to read the Bible, how to pray, how to memorize scripture, and how to understand basic Christian doctrines. I sometimes think about those days when I could go to church and not worry about having a lesson prepared, or a sermon, or having an answer to a question, or being concerned how someone else was doing. But I'm glad I've moved on from those days, and I don't mean that in a prideful or self-congratulatory way. It's just that there is so much more beyond the elementary teachings and more to life than waiting for spiritual milk and cookies.
The writer of Hebrews is telling us rather candidly I think, that we are long overdue. Enough time has elapsed that we should all be teachers, but as it is, some of us are still waiting in line to get a milk mustache and to feel warm and full. When will some of us ever get around to moving toward maturity? That is the concern of the author of Hebrews and of every reasonable Christian.
The author of Hebrews is concerned that we move beyond milk and to put it bluntly, that we grow up. He's saying that it's time we develop a taste for steak. It's time that we develop a voracious appetite and feast on the deeper things of Christ and his kingdom. Hebrews 6:1-3 (NIV) says, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beyond spiritual milk.
Let's pause here for a moment and rehash some of what we have been talking about. The problem is not that the author of Hebrews is a dull or boring teacher, because this has always been a common complaint Christians make of their teachers. The problem is that the Hebrew Christians were dull hearers. They were slothful. They were lazy. They were apathetic about the deeper things of Christ. They selectively listened and did not fully obey the whole counsel of God. As a result, their spiritual development was stunted. They were stuck on milk! Their immaturity was evidenced by their inability to share spiritual truth with others. They had been Christians long enough to be able to share God's truth, but they were again in need of learning the basics concerning the Christian life.
Have you ever stopped to consider what milk is? Warren Wiersbe comments that milk is predigested food. As such milk is especially suited to babies and those who are sick or to those who do not have teeth! A sign of spiritual immaturity is Christians who need everything predigested. The mark of spiritual immaturity is Christians whose first question when they come to church is, "Got milk?"
Spiritual immaturity is Christians who always need someone to read and interpret the Bible for them. It's parents who are unable to teach their children about Jesus. It's church leaders who do not know how to share the gospel or cultivate deeper life in other Christians. It's older men and older women who have never taken it upon themselves to mentor younger men and younger women in the faith. It is Christians who have to be entertained with music and drama and instruments and special lighting and sound effects and powerpoint and all the frills in order to get an ounce of enlightenment.
Spiritual immaturity is Christians who are most concerned about staying comfortable, singing the same songs, quoting the same Bible verses, following the same liturgy, and having everything their way. These folks are never looking beyond themselves at the opportunities to disciple young people and young families which are abounding in their midst.
The writer of Hebrews is raising the bar for church leaders, for parents, and for Christians. There is a time when every Christian must crave pure spiritual milk. Just as everyone has to come into this world as a baby, so everyone has to be born into God's kingdom as a baby. But it is tragic when a baby doesn't move on to maturity. As Wiersbe says, "No matter how much parents and grandparents love to hold and cuddle a baby, it is their great desire that the baby grow up and enjoy a full life as a mature adult. God has the same desire for his children. God wants us moving beyond infancy into maturity."
Marks of true maturity.
We're going to move on to cover the additional verses in Hebrews, but let me briefly sketch out what spiritual maturity looks like and then you can judge whether you are moving toward maturity.
First, a mature Christian is unshakably devoted to Jesus Christ.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's only Son. A mature Christian is one who has mastered the elementary teachings about Christ, has developed deep convictions concerning the identity of Jesus Christ, and is vitally connected to Jesus Christ through prayer, daily devotions, scripture memorization, Bible reading, meditation, fasting, and Bible study. In other words, this is someone who has an insatiable desire to know Christ and search out the deeper things of God. This is a person who isn't content with what he already knows, but is actively growing and pursuing Christ, even into old age.
Second, a mature Christian is tirelessly committed to developing other Christians.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's family, the Church. A mature Christian is one who has become accountable to other Christians for his own growth, but who is lovingly holding others accountable for their growth. It is a parent, a mature Christian who is actively discipling his or her children. It is a Church leader, a mature Christian who is actively mentoring an upcoming leader. It is an older man or woman, a mature Christian who is actively investing in the lives of someone younger in the faith. It is an older brother, or sister, or student, or whatever. It's the same. A mature Christian is patiently encouraging and investing in the growth of others.
Third, a mature Christian is consistently modeling Christ's lifestyle.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's Holy Spirit. I know it is easy for younger people to beat up on their parents, for parents to beat up on church leaders, or for Christians to beat up on pastors. It is easy and tempting for us to question the spiritual maturity of others. But a mature Christian is not someone who is perfect in everything he or she does. A maturing Christian is someone who is becoming increasingly consistent day after day as God's Holy Spirit transforms him or her from the inside out. The question is, are you being transformed? Are you becoming more like Christ? Are you yielding to the leadership of the Spirit of God? Are you obeying your conscience? Are you a doer of the word and not merely a hearer?
Last, a mature Christian is intentionally multiplying new life in the world.
This describes a disciple's relationship to God's world. Hebrews 5:12 mentioned that we ought to be teachers. I pointed out that a more accurate translation is that we are indebted to be teachers. A sign of spiritual maturity is taking the new life we have received in Christ, and then sharing it with the world God loves. It's taking those tell, invite, pray cards seriously and inviting people to come and see Jesus Christ. It is inviting as many friends and family members as possible to our church on Friend Day and Easter so that they can hear the gospel and know Jesus Christ.
There is so much more to spiritual life than mere infancy. God wants to mature us and to accomplish great things through us for his glory. He doesn't want us to spend our entire lives lining up for milk. He wants us to be teachers and disciplemakers who make a difference. But it comes down to one thing. Are you listening?
Are you hearing God's call? Or are you selectively hard of hearing or dull of hearing?
It;s a great start from years being froze in the base ideas.. or going back to the milk found in the verses in Hebrews where we are required to move ahead of the elementaty things.
Not easy, milk is easy been done for us?they provide some real good jump off points to use, a great motivation article.
This is dear tome challenged me when it came out to , early street ministry years where loaded with night action, I seen all sorts of stuff than sadly the break down of the family unit and mom and dad were often in missing, so the need for both Boys and girls had no real guidence we all get into troubles but now it;s reached serious crime, something gone wrong, it;s become free for all and out of control, loads of issues for sure and still we travel the road of blindness willfully at times.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Anxious for nothing????
"Be anxious for nothing,but in everything by prayer and supplication,with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:6-7
Beyond platonic theology.......................
NARROWWAY
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Meditations
Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can't have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9) we immediately have something that is real, our faith is limitless.
As we can see things are personal not just static,"We are not built for ourselves, but for God. Not for service for God, but for God".
The thing that makes a missionary is the sight of what Jesus did on the cross and to have heard Him say, "Go.";
All of God's people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose he has given them.That great eternal now, at narrowway we focus our faith in the now of our lives sec by sec.
I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize the Lord is here now, the freedom you receive is immediate.
Our redeemer has left his very Spirit in his people, so we can walk in his power. Narrowway.
Dear Brother,
God sees what has gone on for you and he will establish his truth in all things, Kings rise and fall, nations come and go, it is those who hold on him that will endure he false witness will crumble and lies be exposed, Faith pleases he who rules all creation, all will bow. Pray for America.
As we can see things are personal not just static,"We are not built for ourselves, but for God. Not for service for God, but for God".
The thing that makes a missionary is the sight of what Jesus did on the cross and to have heard Him say, "Go.";
All of God's people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose he has given them.That great eternal now, at narrowway we focus our faith in the now of our lives sec by sec.
I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize the Lord is here now, the freedom you receive is immediate.
Our redeemer has left his very Spirit in his people, so we can walk in his power. Narrowway.
Dear Brother,
God sees what has gone on for you and he will establish his truth in all things, Kings rise and fall, nations come and go, it is those who hold on him that will endure he false witness will crumble and lies be exposed, Faith pleases he who rules all creation, all will bow. Pray for America.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
A road map to a living way.
“Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender.”
Feast of Mark the Evangelist Let a man set his heart only on doing the will of God and he is instantly free... If we understand our first and sole duty to consist of loving God supremely and loving everyone, even our enemies, for God's dear sake, then we can enjoy spiritual tranquilly under every circumstance.”
It takes a determined effort of the mind to break free from the error of making books an end in themselves. The worst thing a book can do for a Christian is to leave him with the impression that he has received from it anything really good; the best it can do is to point the way to the Good he is seeking. The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life. That book serves best which early makes itself unnecessary, just as a signpost serves best after it is forgotten, after the traveler has arrived safely at his desired haven. The work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eves toward God and urge him forward. Beyond that it cannot go.”
Without it no assembly can be a New Testament assembly in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such a way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
Those great reminders from Narrowway files to you and our life to yours walking alone with Godis storehouse of joy love and hope and knowledge which has real depth.
Feast of Mark the Evangelist Let a man set his heart only on doing the will of God and he is instantly free... If we understand our first and sole duty to consist of loving God supremely and loving everyone, even our enemies, for God's dear sake, then we can enjoy spiritual tranquilly under every circumstance.”
It takes a determined effort of the mind to break free from the error of making books an end in themselves. The worst thing a book can do for a Christian is to leave him with the impression that he has received from it anything really good; the best it can do is to point the way to the Good he is seeking. The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life. That book serves best which early makes itself unnecessary, just as a signpost serves best after it is forgotten, after the traveler has arrived safely at his desired haven. The work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eves toward God and urge him forward. Beyond that it cannot go.”
Without it no assembly can be a New Testament assembly in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such a way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
Those great reminders from Narrowway files to you and our life to yours walking alone with Godis storehouse of joy love and hope and knowledge which has real depth.
Narrowway a journey apart
Walking in the Spirit presents another reality one which is truly a life apart, a place where time and material things are set aside towards a wonderful connection, no vast systems required, a life given to Love,faith, and hope defined of coarse in the will and mind of Christ not what ever feels good, those trend setters of the time.
This was added to take that extra peak at self evaluation that's sets confusion apart from wisdom from another.Getting back ,we have long ways to go.
“A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions, and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar. The tragic results of this spirit are all about us. Shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit; these and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.”
Getting back to the Seer that sees through is much more than the artifice of mere recitation, tradition, An alternative is to be full and free. How we build series by Narrowway.
Narroway
This was added to take that extra peak at self evaluation that's sets confusion apart from wisdom from another.Getting back ,we have long ways to go.
“A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions, and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar. The tragic results of this spirit are all about us. Shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit; these and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.”
Getting back to the Seer that sees through is much more than the artifice of mere recitation, tradition, An alternative is to be full and free. How we build series by Narrowway.
Narroway
Friday, January 6, 2012
Spirit led
Truth consists not merely in correct doctrine but in correct doctrine to which is added the inward enlightenment of the Holy Spirit...John the Baptist said, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven" (John 3:27). He was not referring to men's gifts. He was speaking of spiritual truth.
Spirit led, means Spirit given!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Deep inside things hurt.
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1:29
In the 11 years out in street ministry, I seen a lot of rough stuff and hurts and drug addiction, loneliness, hopelessness, and those corrupt, it;s been something, yes my life at risk? perhaps, The Lord Jesus died for me and my sin he took it all, no not perfect yet someday with him,only in him, I had to learn to die to myself out there,
I love the people, pray for their suffering and hope for their lives to change,that comes with it all MS.
There is nothing easy in the late hours far from home helping to trying to stop something or simply making it through.
The consequences of sin come around and in times no one would have thought as escapee, God catches any in the craftiness of their sin, theft, drug,addiction, or hate, crime, in so many ways, it all comes back.
things hurt at times, hard and joy comes as well in the face of the unpredictable events and no place to run to, it;s there real faith grows when we have reached outside of our own strength and ideas and to give or rescue others in those dark places.
The system will never fix it by legislation or prisons many are deeply abused in jails and lead to even greater issues later on. I see it, The core stuff is always the inner man that must change.
Not easy to step into a dark water and never look back and wait to see what the impossible brings. Taking the time to love those who have no hope and those who think they got it all, and having joy and experience with God is out side any book or idea it;s personal.
Jesus said to love one another as I have loved you? love comes with truth phil1;9
and if we love, as he has us, we do not seek to harm our neighbors, where ever they are..
Take care!
"read the word it;s good for the soul...
Monday, January 2, 2012
Just what was the real deal like?
Thanks for the article, no doubt we see the warnings from other writers as well to help that part of us that needs references due to the lack of real discernment which is function of the Holy Spirit in the body not just human smarts. It;s a noble article and well spoken truths in a time where many are seeking to what is the truth in all this we do.
The article section is small part of the whole.
The article section is small part of the whole.
Ephesians 4:15-16, clearly identifies the purpose of our assembling, "speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." Nothing like our church today.
We all were a part of an assembly of people who had in common their commitment to Jesus and to each other. Their coming together involved exhortation and fellowship with one another They were not an audience for a single speaker, but a living body much like are human bodies. 1 Corinthians 12:18-1924,26, "But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased...But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no divisions in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
We all were a part of an assembly of people who had in common their commitment to Jesus and to each other. Their coming together involved exhortation and fellowship with one another They were not an audience for a single speaker, but a living body much like are human bodies. 1 Corinthians 12:18-1924,26, "But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased...But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no divisions in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
The word church is responsible for destroying all the above and the kingdom of God as it is in heaven. How do we feel when we repeat what we call the Lord's prayer? "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." All that is representative of church is against all that is representative of the kingdom of heaven.
William Tyndale, who in the 16th century translated our first English Bible, translated "ekklesia" as “congregation,” moving the focus from a building to the people. He wanted to rid the Bible of the ecclesiastical words set in by a powerful clergy system linked to the state. Tyndale used the word “church” one time and that was to describe a pagan temple (Acts 19:37 "For ye have brought hyther these [Paul and company] me which are nether robbers of churches [pagan house of worship] nor yet despisers of youre goddes). His translation brought the down the wrath of the Clergy and it cost him his life. For his translation he was burned at the stake.
This is true even to this day; the most hated people are those who challenge our religious system...and the challenge is just beginning.
This is true even to this day; the most hated people are those who challenge our religious system...and the challenge is just beginning.
Many in the clergy derive their prestige and livelihood from a clergy system with its corporate headquarters in a building. A change back to the faith that was once given to the saints rings fear to the order of our institutional church system. Such words as: “bishop,” “office of.” “pastor,” “deacon,” etc., have been improperly translated to build an empire around men and denominational divisions.
In love it;s time, we're thank for for your letter from the Chinese response to our dilemma, here , My personal words in Spirit of love I would suggest other wise, it;s what we;re doing here in the face of all these facts the reason to remain in the past will only add to the false building part.
I am pleased to see change on the way and it needs to be so to give the glory back to the lord and take it from men. Thanks for great article and we hope many in the ekklesia will gather and meet and speak as they are led , the desire to hear how God is working in others lives is vital and part of the growth aspect so deeply needed as is real faith.Love to them.
We are praying for the west great changes can only be done buy our lord as they are in china, withal people willing hear, alternative to John 11;48 in which our place superseded the presence of God than as Jesus, and the Spirit today, In order to sustain human tradition.
Please keep in mind that the scriptures the original letters were written to everyday people, and there was no time to need Plato to figure it out for them,, so we could spin it all sorts of ways. With connection, which is denied in our age by misrepresentation the lack of personal research to really discover those truths for oneself as to real truths..
"The scriptures imply to labor in study deeply digging seeking as for treasure", effort to know the personage of God by surrender and listening, as to what our roles are one to the lord for most and to one another without all the added stuff. That is discernment the function of the Spirit not man's wisdom. Thanks, love to all.. Pride is deadly...
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